Have you thought about adding a built-in display shelf? They were popular in the mid-century. You don't see them much anymore and often have been removed from mid-century homes, but I love them and think it would be a perfect solution here. It would give you a wonderful focal point to stop the eye as you want, but not close the area in so much that it feels like a dead end.

The previous suggestion by justgotabme is a nice one. Shelving there could be very nice - I would be inclined to do glass shelves (perhaps frosted glass), as it appears you have a can light over that space, and the light could shine down through the glass and highlight what is placed there.

The other thing that could be interesting is to hang a great framed decortative metal wall piece there, or a framed stained or beveled glass art piece, that would fill some of the space but not block all the light and close off the hallway.

I think, with bifold doors, that you should be able to fit a small bench there as well, or a floor-standing planter. A rug in that area would be nice as well, to stop the eye in that space.

Have you looked here?

Here is a link that might be useful: Here

Do you really need the bifold doors on that room? I'd take them off if you can and open up the space that way.

If you can't, I'd put a round rug in front of the doors and a matching runner leading up to it.

I'd put a little half moon table or shelf in that little space just before the bifold doors, with a mirror above and a bushy potted plant or light on the table. You can use the table/shelf as place to drop keys and it (and the rugs) will distract the eye from running right to the house.

I like the idea of something hanging from the ceiling rather than shelves.

Wow Oceanna you have been busy and I am thankful for it!
From the pix there, there is one of a very narrow sofa table which might work along with a lamp or something else on it to be a pretty focal point. Could work.

I agree with the round rug at the end. A table along the left wall. And my first thought was to hang a stained-glass window in that space.

Love the idea of the lighted glass display shelves!

OR hang a large glass/acrylic panel (maybe frosted? with a pattern?) Check with a mirror/glass business in your area. Take a photo of the area with you (along with measurements! of course!!) to the store. They may have a better solution for hanging your new panel too.

Thanks, Sheila! I wish more folks knew to look in the Gallery.

Now, where did Beth go??

I am not Beth, but I LOVE the photo gallery! Thanks for taking the time to upload all of them.. I love them all.

Sorry to ask a tech question, but I can not seem to save my favorites! IS it possible in Vista? I right click, and my only options to save picture are: ART or BMP, which can not be opened once saved :(

Anyone with vista have any ideas? Sorry if this has been asked before.. I did a quick search
Thanks
Nora

Thanks, Nora. :D

Hmmm... I have Vista and funny that you ask. I don't have that problem... I can save pics as jpgs with Vista. But sometimes it just won't show anything at all when I right click a photo, or it will show a sign saying it can't do that, and I have to reboot to get it to behave. Then it will behave usually for a few days then do it again. I thought it might be an incompatability with my PSP 9 s/w but maybe it's just a Vista glitch? I'm a real picture hound so it makes me crazy when it won't save. Maybe we should be complaining to Microsoft?

Thanks Oceanna, I bet since you have PSP, and I don't, that is the difference.. you can save as jpg... (but weird about the reboot..)

I am going to go to my desktop and see if XP will let me save... that's what I have to do to save certain podcasts....

Thanks for responding.

Okay, just to close my hijack of this thread... I was able to successfully save my favorite photos using XP, so I will follow up with Microsoft on why Vista does not allow you to save as a .jpg

thanks again for uploading all the photos.. they are awesome.

Thank you all for the great suggestions, and also for all of the pictures. I haven't been on this site in a long time and I always forget about the gallery!

I can't put in glass shelves for a few years (I have 2 boys under 5), so I'm on the hunt for the perfect solution. I like the idea of hanging something, but I'd have to do two since I have a similar pillar on the other side of the room. So I'm keeping my eyes out for something that might work.

Here's what I did in the mean time. I had the table in another room. The vase is wood and the flowers are silk because I know the boys are going to knock them over at some point!

{{!gwi}}

That's an improvement! With active kids you might want to tape your vases down with a wad/ball of tape, or use an earthquake putty. Did you look at the thread in the Gallery?

I think Vista still has some big bugs. I hope they work them out soon. This is a drag.

Thank you, Oceanna. I did look at the treads in the gallery. Thank you so much for all of the threads you put together over there! I am having fun dreaming and being inspired. I'm a decorating newbie, trying to make the most of what we have without spending a fortune. I'm beginning to see things in a whole new light. Thanks for your help.

Beth

beth-I just love the color of your foyer. Would you mind sharing it?
TIA

I'd get shelves built, which could be open on both sides, but give you a place to display things out of the traffic lane and away from little hands. You could put up an anchoring strip on the wall, and "float" the shelves, which could be the wall color or the trim color. The shelves would also screen the view of the hall from the front door.

If shelves don't appeal, why not shutters which could be opened or closed?

I love the color of the vase and little stand, but the spindly legs aren't the right proportion.

tfm1134 - the color of the walls is Blonde by Sherwin Williams. The trim is Navajo White.

ideefixe (and others who suggested shelves) - I am so clueless! I had it in my thick head that you were talking about low shelving on the little wall, not spanning between the pillar and the wall. I finally get the idea and I LOVE it. Now I just have to convince my husband!

I have the same hall way, so really loved everyone's ideas! I have thought about clearing out a closet on one wall, removing the doors and putting a sleeping closet in there that stays open to the hallway to give it more width. It would only be cot sized because of the depth possibly with book shelves and a light looking like one of those European wall niches with a bed. Because I love rustic, I would layer it with a collection of wool blankets, fun pillows and maybe a pictures and/or old postcards. I have lots of guest and a child could sleep on the cot. Now, to figure out what to do with what is in the closet! What do you think of that idea?

My hallway is actually the same color. I've also been thinking of running a 2 pieces of wood down the hall apart enough to hang pictures between them in an effort to make a more tidy gallery, but fear it would lengthen and skinny up the look of the hallway. If the ceiling was darker than the walls would it cause the widith to look wider?

Here is a link that might be useful: Winchuck River Store

Beth, I hear you. I think a number of the folks here have money to burn but some of us have made an art out of being poor but not looking poor -- so ask us and we often know how to save a buck on a purchase, or fake it, or rehab it. There are some very clever folks here! Also, don't forget to consult your Craigslist frequently. Some killer bargains show up but they whoosh out the door very fast.

OK, I'm still fussing with this area, and probably will be for a while. My husband already thinks I'm crazy. Now I'm moving furniture in the middle of the night!

Here is what is there (at the moment!) This a weird little table that has a hole in the back (like a TV armoir), which the runner is hiding.
{{!gwi}}

Here is what I tried. It's too big, but my mom has a smaller table very similar that I'm going to try to persuade her out of!

{{!gwi}}

Besides, I like this one in it's real "home," which was my last project (and I've already changed things a bit, not to mention picking up the toys!)

{{!gwi}}

Oh yes, that last table is great. And with the rounded sides it doesn't look like a corner waiting to attack a running kid. I don't think it looks that much too big, but maybe in real life, and if you need it in another space (where it does look great too).

Maybe you could work out a trade with your mom? Post pix if you do.